Means for treating asphalt



Jan. 8, 1935. J, A. WITHEE MEANS FOR TREATING ASPHALT Filed Aug. 18. 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1" mw m w m 6 V m m m 7 mm. 3 .1 m .Qm I I: m R ..S\ \w RN w J V mww W Q Q m mu N m QM. w ww a %w w ww mw mm uw M \N p l YB mw 5 NW N w M H 1N\ W, hm "a I m u a n u n m L Q Jan. 8, 1935. J. A. WITHEE 1,986,871

MEANS FOR TREATING ASPHALT Filed Aug-1 18. 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 8 1935 Joseph Autism Withee, Kansas City, aa-

si'gnor of one-half to Garlic J. Hines, Kansas Application august 18, 19:3, sci-m No. 5,134

The device forming the subject matter or this application embodies novel means for tempering asphalt rock and petroleum asphalt, and forms- ,ing them with a binder, to make a. superior grade of mica asphalt, fuel being saved, the period of operation being cut down, and continuously acting means being supplied for delivering thematerial and for carrying away the finished product.

It is within the province of the disclosure improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains. w

With the above and other objectsin view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed,m'ay 'be made.

within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in vertical longitudinal section, a device constructed. in accordance with the invention, parts being in elevation;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, wherein parts are in section;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3- -3-of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the pipe which connects the drums. v

In carrying out the invention, there is provided an arched casing 1, which may be made of brick work. The casing 1 includes a front transverse base wall 2 and a rear transverse base wall 3, as shown in Fig. 1. a. little from the forward end of the casing- 1. The casing 1 has outwardly removable ends 4. The ends 4 may be made of an asbestos composition, or any other suitable refractory material.

An-upper drum 5 is mounted in the ends of the casing 1. A lower drum 6 is mounted in the ends 4 of the casing 1 and on the forward base wall 2. The drums 5 and 6-are cylindrical, and are disposed 'in vertical alinement, the drum 5 being above the drum 6. The drums5 and 6 are supported at their sides, from the sides. of the casing 1, by anchors 7, shown in Fig. 3. The anchors 7 may be in the form of baflles, as long as desired, and extended longitudinally of the casing 1. The upper drum 5 has a downward and rearward inclination of about one to twelve. The lower drum 6 has a downward and forward inclination of about one to twelve. The inclination of the drums5 and 6 aidsin keeping the asphalt sand drum 5 to the lower drum 6.

The base wall 2 is set inwardly moving, and because the drums are inclined, the heat is greatest at the lower end of each mm.

A square vertical pipe 8 is connected at its upper end to the lower end of the upper drum 5, the lower end of the pipe '8 being connected to the upper end 'of the lower drum 6.' By means of the pipe 8, the material is conducted from the upper The flow of material through the pipe 8 is regulated by a-horizontal gate 9, slidably mounted in the pipe 8. On its rear side, the pipe 8 has an opening 10, controlled by a closure-11, slidably mounted on the pipe. The opening 10 and the closure 11 are for the purpose-of permitting samples to be taken out at any time. d

' The upper drum 5 has a forward head 12 and a rear head 14. The lower drum 6 has a forward and 18 give access to the drums. Pipes '19 are secured detachably, if desired, to the heads 12 and 14 ofthe drum 5, about the openings 17. A similar pipe 20 is secured to the head 15 of the drum 6, about the opening 18. The vapors produced during the operation of the machine are taken of! through the pipes 19 and 20. At its top and near to its forward end, the upper drum 5 has an outwardly extended oil inlet pipe 21. At its top, and adjacent to its rear end, the upper drum 5 is provided with an outwardly extended asphalt inlet pipe 22. The head 16 of the drum 6 is supplied in its upper portion with an oil inlet pipe 23 and with an asphalt inlet pipe 24. The heater for the casing 1 is shown at 25 and maybe mounted in the base wall 3. The showing of the drawings respecting the heater 25 is diagrammatic, and any form of heater orburner may be employed.

The heads 12 and 14 of the upper drum 5, and theheads 15 and 16 of the lower drum '6, carry external bearings 26. In these hearings are journaled the cylindrical ends of square shafts 27. The cylindrical ends of the shafts 27 are marked by the numeral 28. On the rear end of each shaft 27, that is, on the rear cylindrical portion of electrical motors 31. The motors 31 may be a supported in any suitable way, for instance, but not of necessity, as shown at 32. Each of the motors 31 is so constructed that it can be run at three different speeds. Arranged in a spiral around each shaft 27 are paddles 33. The outer ends of the paddles 33 are set at an acute angle to the axis of the shaft 2'1 that carries them. The'shafts 27 are located a little below the axis of the respective drums 5 and 6. The result is that the outer ends of the paddles will scrape, or run extremely close to the lower third of each of the drums Sand 6, considered circumferentially,

the outer ends of the paddles moving clear of the upper portion of each drum, as 3 will show. A proper advancement and agitation of the material thus is secured, and power is saved, because the outer ends of the paddles do not scrape on the drums throughout the entire circumference of the drums. The material in the lower third (or thereabout) of each of the drums 5 and 6 is scraped clear of the drum.

The numeral 34 marks ahopper, located at the forward end of the casing 1 and a little to one side of the casing. The hopper 34 has a tapered lower end 35. The hopper 34 may be supported by any suitable means, indicated generally at 36. The hopper 34 has a circumscribing jacket 37. A pipe 38 leads from the casing 1 to the jacket 37. The jacket 3'! has an outlet 39, located wherever desired. The purpose of the jacket .31 is to-drive out the moisture in the asphalt sand that is in the hopper 34and to prevent caking. By means of, the pipe 38, the jacket 31 and the outlet 39, the waste heat from the .casing 1 is utilized, and the casing is given an outlet for the products of combustion from the burner 25 or its equivalent.

At its lower end, the part of the .hopper 34 discharges into, and is connected to an inclined chute 40, which maybe in the form of a trough. A short L-shaped pipe 41 connects the inner end of the chute with the upper drum 5, through the drum head 12. A burner 42 is disposed lengthwise of the chute 40, underneath the chute. The burner 42 is supported at 43 from the chute 40, if desired, and its purpose is to heat the material moving along the chute and to drive out any moisture that may happen to remain in the material. The material is advanced along the chute 40 by a worm conveyor 44. The worm conveyor 44 is secured to a shaft 45 joumaled in the chute and in a bearing 46 carriedby the tapered lower end 35 of the hopper 34. Rotation is imparted to the shaft 45 by any suitable instrumentality, such' as a motor 47 carried by the part 35 of the hopper 34 and connected operatively with the shaft 45 through gearing 48. Some may prefer to drive the shaft 45in a different way, and that is permissible.

In the lower forward portion of the drum 6 there is outlet opening 49. A depending tubular skirt on the drum 6 surrounds the opening ,49 andprevents air from drawing into the opening 49 to an undesirable extent. The lower end of the skirt 50 is disposed close to a short, power driven belt conveyor 51 extended longitudinally of the machine. The mate'ial discharged by the belt conveyor 51 drops on a screen 52, which may be constructed as desired. Having passed through the screen-or grate 52, the material is carried away by'faf wer driven, transverse belt conveyor 'onveyor 53 sometimes'is made.of a rubber compound, and to prevent the granulated material from to the belt conveyor, a

noses-11' and being prevented from adhering to the conveyor 53, as aforesaid.

In practical operation, the machine is used for the .purpose of tempering asphalt rock and petroleum'asphalt,' and for fusing a binder with them, to make a superior grade of mica asphalt. The material to be tempered is introduced into the hopper 34, and in the hopper, most of the moisture isdriven off, by the action of the jacket 37, which derives its heat from the casing 1, by way of the pipe 38, the products of combustion leaving by way of the outlet 39. In practical operation, the material flows from the tapered lowerend 35 of the hopper 34 into the outer end of the chute 40. The material here is engaged by the worm conveyor 44, driven from the motor 47, and is advanced lengthwise of the chute 40.

' Whilst the material is being advanced in the chute asphalt is added ,to the-material in the drum 5, by way of the pipe 22.

The material passes downwardly through the pipe 8, into the drum 6, the flow of material through the pipe 8 being governed by the gate 9,

and it being possible to sample the material at this point, by opening the closure 11. v

The material proceeds downwardly along the drum 6, owing to the inclination of the drum, and to the action of the paddles 33 in the drum 6, the paddles of both drums being driven from the motors 31 by way of the gearing shown at 3029, and through the instrumentality of the shafts 27. The material, at a temperature approaching 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, produced by the heating means shown at25, leaves by way of the outlet 49 and the skirt 50, the material being carried away by the belt conveyor 51 and the belt conveyor 53, the material being cooled, before it reaches the belt conveyor 53, by the water spray discharged from the means shown at 54.

As the material passes through the drums 5, longitudinally thereof, the difference in temperafuel are saved. The operation of the machine is continuous. The machine is equipped with constant feeding and discharging mechanisms. The

speed of operation may be regulated by changing the speed at which the ,motors 31 operate, those motors, preferably, being three speed motors, as has been explained hereinbefore.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1; In a machine fortreating material of the class described, a casing, oppositely inclined upper and lower drums fixed in the casing, a member establishing communication between the lower end of the upper drum and the upper end of the lower drum, an inlet for the material to be treated, discharging into the upper end of the upper drum, the lower end of the lower drum being provided with an outlet for the treated material, a combined conveyor and agitator in each drum and;

*establishing communication between the lower end of the upper drum and the upper end of the lower drum, an inlet for the material to-be treated,

into the upper end of theupper drum, the lower end of the lower drum being provided with an outlet for thetreated material, a com- ,binedconveyorandagita'tor in each drum and operating longitudinally thereof, means for heating the interior of the casing, about the drums, said member an external sampling opening, and a movable closure for-said opening.

3. In a machine for treating materialof the classdeseribed, a casing, oppositely inclined upper and lower drums jfixed in the casing, a member establishing communication between the lower end of the upper drum and the upper end of the lower-drum, aninlet for the material to be treated,-

discharg'lng into the upper end of the upper drum, the'lower end of the lower drum being provided with an outlet for the treated material, a combined-conveyorand agitator in each drumand operating longitudinally thereof, means for heat- .7 ing the interior of the casing, about the drums,

said member being provided with an external sampling opening, a movable closure for said bpening,an'd a, gate in said member, and under the control of an operator, the gate constituting. ineans for regulating the amount of material that passes fromthe upper drum to the lower drum.

, 4. In a machine for treating material of the A class described, a oppositely inclined upper and lower drums fixed in the casing, a member establishing "communication between the lower end of the upper drum and theupper end of'the lower drum, an inlet for the material to be treated, discharging into the upper end of the upper drum,

the lower end of the'lower drum being provided with an-outlet for the treated material, a combined conveyor and agitator in each drum and operating longitudinally thereof,-means for heating the interior of the casing,about the drums,

' the inlet for the material to be treated comprising a hopper. a heater for the contents-of the hopper, and-a conduit leading from the interior" [of the casing tothe heater.

5. In a machine for treating material of the class described, a casing, oppositely inclined upper and lower drums fixed in the casing, a member establishing communication between the lower end of the upper drum and the upper end of the lower drum, an inlet for the material to be treated,

intotbe upper end of the upper drum, the lower end or the lower drum being provided with an outlet for the treated material, a combined conveyor and agitator in each .drum and operatinglongitudinally thereof, means for heating the interior or the casing, about the drums; theinletforthematerialtobetreatedcompris imahopperhavinganextemaliacketprovided with an outlet, and a conduit connecting the interior of the casingwith the jacket, the means for heating the interior of the casing embodying a combustion device, and the products of combustion finding their way out of the casing, through the. conduit, through the jacket, and through the outlet of. the jaeket.

6. Ina machine for treating material of the class described, a casing, oppositely inclined upper and lower idrums fixed in the casing, a member establishing communication between the lower end of the upper drum and the upper end of the lower drum, an inlet for the material to be treated,

discharging into the upper end of the upper drum, the lower end of the lower drum being provided with an outlet for the treated material, a combined conveyor and agitator in each drum and operating longitudinally thereof, means for heating the interior of the casing, about the drums,

theinlet for the material to be treated comprising a hopper and a chute leading from the hopper to the, upperdrum,'a conveyor operating in the chute, and means for driving the conveyor.

-'l In a. machine for treating material of the class described, a casing, oppositely inclined upper and lower drums fixed inthe casing, a member -establishing communication between the lower end of theupper drum and the upper end of the lower drum, an inletfor the materiaito be treated, discharginginto the upper end of the upper drum, the lower end of the lower-drum being provided with an outlet for the treated material. a combined conveyor ahdagitator in each drum and operating longitudinally thereof, means for heating the interior' of'thecasing, about the drums,

the inlet for thematerial to, be treated comprising a hopper, a chute leading from the hopper to the upper drum, a conveyor operating in the chute, means for operating the conveyor, and'a heater extending longitudinally of the chute in heating relation thereto.

8. In'fa machine for treating material of the class described, a casing, oppositely inclined upper andlower drums fixed in'the casing, a member establishing communication between the lower end of the upper drum and the upper end of the lower drum, an inlet tor the material to be treated, dischar ging into theupper end of the upper drum, the lower end of the lower drum being provided withan outlet for the treated material, a-

combined conveyor and agitator in each drum and operating longitudinally thereof, means for heat- ,ingthe interior of the casing, about the a first conveyor whereon the outlet for the treated material discharges, asecond conveyor where- .on the first conveyor discharges, a gate interposed between the conveyors, and means for cooling the treated material after it has'passed the gate and is received on the second conveyor.

class described, a casing, oppositely inclined up per and lower drums fixed in the casing, a member establishing communication between the low- 9. In a machine for treating material of the er end of the upper drum and the upper end of the lower drum, an inlet for the material to be treated, discharging into the upper end of the upper drum, thelower end of the lower bea ing provided with an outlet for thetreated material, a combined conveyor and agitator in each drum and operating longitudinally thereof, means for heating the interior of the casing, about. the Y drums, each combined conveyor and agitator embodyinzashaftiournaledinthednim,

carriedbytheahaftandcooperatingwiththe inner wall of the drum, and separate means for rotating each shaft at different speeds.

10. In a machine for treating material of the class described, a casing, oppositely inclined upper and lower drums fixed in the easing, a member establishing communication between the lower end of the upper drum and the upper end of the lower drum, an inlet for the material to be treated, discharging into the upper end of the upper drum, the lower end of the lower drum being provided with an outlet for the treated material, a combined conveyor and agitator in each drum and operating longitudinally thereof, means for heating the interior of the casing, about the drums, each combined conveyor and agitator embodying a shaft journaled in the drum, paddles carried by the shaft, and means for rotating the shafts, the shafts being so journaled that their axes are eccentric with respect to the axes of the drums, whereby the paddles will move close to the lower portions of the drums, and depart from the uppzr portions of the drums, as the shafts perv and lower drums fixed in the casing, a member establishing communication between the lower end of the upper drum and the upper end of the lower drum, an inlet for the material to be treated, discharging into the upper end of the upper drum, the lower end of the lower drum being provided with an outlet for the treated ma-- terial, a combined conveyor and agitator in each lower drum, an inlet for the material to be treated, discharging into the upper end of the upper drum, the lower end of the lower drum being provided with an outlet for the treated material, a combined conveyor and agitator in each drum and operating longitudinally thereof, means for heating the interior of the casing, about the drums,

and each drum being provided with an outlet for the vapors created therein through the action of the means for heating the interior of the casing.

13. In a machine for treating material of, the class described, a casing, oppositely inclined upper and lower drums fixed in the casing, a member establishing communication between the lower end of the upper drum and the upper end of the lower drum, an inlet for the material to be treated, discharging into the upper end of the upperends with an outlet for the vapor created in the drum by the action of'the means for heating the interior of the casing, and the lower drum being provided at its lower end with a like outlet.

'14. In a machine for treating material of the class described, a casing, oppositelyv inclined upper and lower drums fixed in the casing, a member establishing communication between the lower end of the upper drum and the upper end of the lower drum, an inlet for the material to be treated, discharging into the upper end of the upper drum, the lower end of the lower drum being provided with an outlet for the treated material, a combined conveyor and agitator in each drum and operating longitudinally thereof, means for heating the interior of the casing, about the drums, and each drum being provided with an inlet for oil, adapted to be used to flood the drum in emergency. l

l 15. Ina machine for treating material of the class described, a casing, oppositely inclined upper and lower drums fixed in the casing, a member establishing communication between the lower end of the' upper drum and the upper end of the lower drum, an inlet for the material to be treat ed, discharging into the upper end of the upper drum, the lowerend of the lower drum being provided with an outlet for the treated material, a combined conveyor and agitator in each drum and operating longitudinally thereof, means for heating the interior of the casing, about the drums, and means whereby petroleum asphalt is admitted to the upper drum.

JOSEPH ADELBERT WITHEE. 

